| The Romans were much more generous in their use | | | | beds. The solid unguents included rhodium, which was |
| of oils and perfumes than either the Egyptians or the | | | | rose scented and narcissum, from narcissus flowers. |
| Greeks. The Romans were known for taking from | | | | Their most popular scented oils included susinum, |
| other peoples not only goods and possessions but | | | | which was made from honey, calamus, cinnamon, |
| also knowledge. The Romans never wrote a single | | | | myrrh, and saffron, and nardinum composed of |
| medical text but rather borrowed everything from | | | | calamus, cistus, cardamon, melissa, spikenard, and |
| the Greeks. If the Greeks used aromatic essential oils | | | | myrrh. These blends were very expensive and only |
| for healing the body-so did the Romans. If the | | | | the wealthy could afford them. They were what we |
| Greeks used oils in their temples-then so did the | | | | would refer to today as "signature perfumes." |
| Romans. If the Greeks had scented public baths, then | | | | The height of excess is exhibited by the report that |
| the Romans improved this concept by having heated | | | | the Roman Emperor Nero commanded that an entire |
| baths, scented with lavender flowers brought in daily | | | | year's production of frankincense be burned at the |
| by the slaves. In other words, they copied what the | | | | funeral of his wife, Sabina Poppae. An entire fleet of |
| intellectual Greeks had accomplished and then took it | | | | ships was used solely to transport frankincense from |
| to the extreme. History shows that the Romans | | | | Arabia to Rome. She obviously meant a great deal to |
| fumigated their temples and political buildings with | | | | Nero since the cost of such extravagance would be |
| essential oils and their soldiers are reported to have | | | | staggering in today's economies. To learn more about |
| used aromatic oils on themselves before going into | | | | the Roman society and how they used essential oils I |
| battle to bolster their courage. | | | | invite you to attend an aromatherapy program that |
| The Romans used three kinds of perfumes-solid | | | | teaches about the Romans and also about other |
| unguents, scented oils and powdered perfumes to | | | | ancient peoples like the Egyptians, Greeks, and |
| fragrance their hair, their bodies and their clothes and | | | | Arabians. |